Sewing machine hoop overspray guard

ABSTRACT

The sewing machine hoop overspray guard of the present invention is a band having an outer loop at one end which receives the free end of the band to form a guard loop. The size of the guard loop is adjustable by adjusting the length of the band from the free end, the loop, when placed on its lower edge, fits within the hoops of a sewing machine for the process of embroidery. A handle tab extends upward and outward from the upper edge of the band and the outer loop for holding the overspray guard while spraying adhesive on the backing material held by the hoops. The height of the band is sufficient to avoid overspray from reaching the hoops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to embroidery sewing machines. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to overspray guardsparticularly useful in prevention of adhesive overspray on embroideryhoops.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of hoops to stretch and hold backing material for embroidery ofcloth material of a garment by a machine is widely employed. In atypical application, the cloth material is attached to the backing orsubstrate material by adhesive. The backing material is generally ofrelatively stiff paper or cloth and serves to provide support for theembroidered portion of the cloth material to provide an improvedembroidery appearance. The backing may also be provided with a patternfor use during the embroidery process. One the embroidery is completed,the piece is removed from the hoops and the excess backing is cut awayfrom the embroidery as required.

During the application of adhesive to the backing material, overspraytends to collect on the hoops. This requires periodic cleaning of thehoops, resulting in production time loss. It would be desirable toprovide a masking device or guard which fits around the embroidery areato which adhesive is applied, but is smaller in sized than the hoop soas to prevent overspray adhesive from reaching the hoop. The hoopoverspray guard is preferably adjustable to fit within a variety of hoopsizes.

Thus, a sewing machine hoop overspray guard solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The sewing machine hoop overspray guard of the present invention is aband having an outer loop at one end which receives the free end of theband to form a guard loop. The size of the guard loop is adjustable byadjusting the length of the band between the free end and the outerloop. The band forming the guard loop, when placed on its lower edge, isadjusted to fit within the hoops of a sewing machine for the process ofembroidery. A handle tab extends upward and outward from the upper edgeof the band and the outer loop for holding the overspray guard whilespraying adhesive on the backing material held by the hoops. The heightof the band is sufficient to avoid overspray from reaching the hoops.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a sewing machineoverspray hoop guard according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the hoop guard of FIG. 1, showing theband engaged in the outer loop.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hoop guard of FIG. 1 in an open and flatposition before forming the loop and handle tab.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hoop guard as in FIG. 3 with the outer loopand handle tab formed.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a sewing machine embroidery hoop oversprayguard for preventing adhesive spray used during set-up of the embroiderypiece from reaching the embroidery hoop.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an environmental perspective view ofthe hoop overspray guard referred to by the reference number 10. Thehoop guard 10 has a strap or band 12 having an inner side 30 and anouter side 32 and forming a generally circular overspray guard loop. Thehoop overspray guar is shown being held by the fingers of left hand LHby a handle tab 14 against the backing material M held between innerhoop I and outer hoop O. An adhesive spray S is being applied from aspray can held by right hand RH to receive the garment to beembroidered.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a side elevation view of theassembled hoop guard 10 having band 12 having free end 24 extendingthrough outer loop 18 and having the handle tab 14 formed at the upperedge of outer loop 18. The band 12, the handle tab 14 and the outer loop18 form a slot 19 to snugly receive band free end 24, and may beconstructed of a unitary piece of plastic sheet material. The handle tab14 is preferably bent outward at tab fold 28 to facilitate grasping.

The sheet material is preferably flexible so as to form the generallycircular band 12, while being of sufficient stiffness and resiliencethat the band is held at a desired adjustment point from its free end 24by friction resulting from the curvature of the looped band 12. Thecurved, looped band 12 is urged by its resilience relative to therelatively flat slot 19 formed by outer loop 18 to form the frictiongrip. The band 12 is preferably bendable to form a loop shape other thancircular such as one approximately corresponding to the shape of thehoops H. The size of the guard loop formed by the band 12 may beadjusted by varying the length of insertion of free end 24 through outerloop 18. Also bands of the inventive hoop guard may be supplied indifferent band lengths.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown plan views of the hoop guardas cut from a sheet of plastic, and after folding to form the outer loop18 and handle tab 14, respectively. The outer loop 18 is formed byfolding over the loop portion 18 at loop fold 26 and securing inner tab20 to outer tab 22 by adhesive, heat sealing, or other well knownmethod. Loop portion 18 is folded such as to leave slot 19 between theloop and the band at the band loop end 16 so as to allow insertion ofband free end 24 therethrough. Handle tab 14 is formed by inner tab 20overlaid with outer tab 20 and bent outward at tab folds 28. Handle tab14 extends upward and outward from band upper edge 36, the guard 10resting on lower edge 38 during use. For storage on a hook or the like,an aperture 34 may be provided proximate band free end 24.

The hoop overspray guard of the present invention is preferably made offlexible plastic material, but may be made of other suitable materialssuch as rubber, leather, or sheet metal.

Preferably the band 12 is about 35½ inches in length and about 2¾ inchesin height, the outer loop 18 and handle tab 14 are about 2 inches inwidth, the outer loop is about 3⅛ inches in length, the handle tab isabout 2¼ inches in vertical length, and the slot 19 formed between theouter lop 18 and the band 12 is about ⅛ inch in width and equal inlength to the height of band 12.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A sewing machine hoop overspray guard, comprising: a band having aninner side, an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a loop end, anda free end; an outer loop located at said loop end on said outer side ofsaid band and defining a slot so sized and configured as to snuglyreceive said free end of said band; and a handle tab extending upwardfrom said upper edge of said band; wherein said band forms an oversprayguard loop by inserting said free end into said outer loop.
 2. The guardof claim 1, wherein said outer loop extends between said upper edge andsaid lower edge of said band.
 3. The guard of claim 2, wherein saidhandle tab extends upward and outward from said outer loop.
 4. The guardof claim 3, wherein said band is flexible and resilient.
 5. The guard ofclaim 4, wherein said guard is unitary.
 6. The guard of claim 3, whereinsaid handle tab comprises an inner tab extending upward and outward fromsaid upper edge of said band and an outer tab extending upward andoutward from said outer loop, said inner tab and said outer tab beingjoined.
 7. The guard of claim 6, wherein said inner tab and said outertab is joined by adhesive.
 8. The guard of claim 6, wherein said band isabout 35½ inches in length and about 2¾ inches in height.
 9. The guardof claim 8, wherein said outer band and said handle tab are about 2inches in width, said outer loop being about 3⅛ inches in length andsaid handle tab being about 2¼ inches in length, said slot being about ⅛inch in width and equal in length to said height of said band.
 10. Theguard of claim 1, wherein said overspray guard loop is adjustable insize by adjusting the length from said free end of said band from saidouter loop.
 11. A sewing machine hoop overspray guard, comprising: aband having an inner side, an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, aloop end, and a free end; an outer loop located at said loop end andforming a slot so sized and configured as to snugly receive said freeend of said band; and a handle tab extending upward from said upper edgeof said band; wherein said band forms an overspray guard loop byinserting said free end into said outer loop.
 12. The sewing machinehoop overspray guard of claim 11, wherein said outer loop extendsoutward from said band.
 13. The guard of claim 11, wherein said outerloop extends between said upper edge and said lower edge of said band.14. The guard of claim 13, wherein said handle tab extends upward andoutward from said outer loop.
 15. The guard of claim 13, wherein saidband is flexible and resilient.
 16. The guard of claim 15, wherein saidguard is unitary.
 17. The guard of claim 13, wherein said handle tabcomprises an inner tab extending upward and outward from said upper edgeof said band and an outer tab extending upward and outward from saidouter loop, said inner tab and said outer tab being joined.
 18. A sewingmachine hoop overspray guard, comprising: a band having an inner side,an outer side, an upper edge, a lower edge, a loop end, and a free end;and an outer loop located at said loop end on said outer side of saidband and defining a slot so sized and configured as to snugly receivesaid free end of said band; wherein said band forms an overspray guardloop by inserting said free end into said outer loop.
 19. The guard ofclaim 18, further comprising a handle tab extending upward from saidupper edge of said band.
 20. The guard of claim 19, wherein said handletab extends upward and outward from said outer loop.